How to Read a SPC Flooring Quotation From a Chinese Factory 2025
You receive a quotation from a Chinese SPC flooring factory. It lists a price per square meter. But what exactly is included and what is not Knowing how to read a quotation correctly saves you from budget surprises later.
What a Standard FOB Quotation Includes
FOB Free On Board means the factory delivers the goods to the vessel at the departure port. The quotation should include product cost per square meter based on your specifications, packaging cost cartons, pallets, stretch wrap, and loading cost onto the truck at the factory.
What FOB Does NOT Include
Ocean freight from China to your destination port. Cargo insurance. US customs clearance fees and import duties. Local truck delivery from the US port to your warehouse. Port handling fees at the destination.
Line Items to Check
Product specification: Confirm thickness, wear layer, core density, locking system type, surface texture, color and design, and plank dimensions. Packaging specification: Confirm carton quantity per pallet, pallet type wood, plywood, or pressed, labeling requirements, and moisture barrier packaging. MOQ: Minimum order quantity per color and per container. Payment terms: Typical terms are 30 percent deposit with order and 70 percent before shipment. Some factories offer L/C. Lead time: Production time from deposit confirmation to shipment ready.
Hidden Costs to Ask About
Sample cost: Are samples free or charged. How is shipping for samples handled. Mold or tooling cost for custom colors. If you request a custom color, there is a print film cost. Custom packaging cost for private label. Testing and certification cost if you need special certifications. Third party inspection cost if you use SGS or Bureau Veritas.
How to Compare Quotes From Different Factories
Normalize the specifications. Make sure you are comparing the same thickness, wear layer, and core density. A lower price may mean thinner wear layer or lower core density. Compare FOB price per square meter not total amount. This helps you evaluate the product cost before shipping variables. Ask each factory for the same incoterm. Compare FOB to FOB or CIF to CIF. Check the packaging quality. A factory that uses stronger cartons and better pallets may quote slightly more but your goods arrive in better condition.
Questions to Ask the Factory
Is this FOB price or CIF price. What port is the FOB price based on. What is the payment schedule. Can you provide a sample before I order. How many colors can I mix in one container. What is the lead time for this product.
About PROLEADER
PROLEADER provides detailed quotations with all line items explained. We can quote FOB Shanghai, CIF to your nearest US port, or DDP to your warehouse. Contact us for a quotation.
